It’s that time of year…

While I managed to stay (mostly) ahead of the Red Asian Lily Beetle this year, and so far, the Sawfly larva damage to the roses has been minimal… we have now begun battle with the dreaded foe….

The dreaded Japanese Beetle!!!!!

Okay – they look a little more like this, but seeing them is totally more like that comic image (thank you AI!) For the uninitiated – Japanese Beetles are an invasive species and they are a HUGE problem for several reasons:

• Japanese beetles feed on over 300 species of plants, including many agricultural crops, ornamental plants, and turf grass. This wide range of host plants makes it difficult to manage their population effectively. For me – they LOVE the raspberries and my roses. But also the Hollyhocks and Willows. I also frequently find them on the Coneflowers, Bee Balm, Hyssop, False Sunflowers, Asters, Rose of Sharon, Marguerites, Peas, Beans and Butterfly Bushes – a good 40% of the plants I have in my garden.
• Adult beetles feed on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants, often skeletonizing the foliage, which can severely weaken plants and reduce crop yields. The larvae (grubs) feed on the roots of grasses, causing damage to lawns and turf.

• Japanese beetles have a high reproductive rate. A single female can lay between 40 to 60 eggs during her lifespan. This high reproductive capacity can lead to rapid population increases.
• In Ontario, Japanese beetles have fewer natural predators compared to their native habitat in Japan. This lack of natural control allows their populations to grow unchecked.
• Japanese beetles are highly mobile and can disperse over large areas, making it easy for them to spread and establish new populations. And they send out pheromones to attract mates – meaning just one female can attract dozens (I literally think its hundreds) of males. And once the are there – they just start snacking!!

Because I don’t rely on my garden to live (ie, I can go to the grocery store if I don’t get a good harvest) I try to be as gentle and organic as I can. That means no pesticides that might inadvertently hurt my beloved pollinators or birds.

And that means the only way to remotely control (ha!) the Japanese Beetles, is to pick them off manually. They say to do this early in the morning or later in the evening when they aren’t as active. I do more – I pick several times a day. Whenever I need a break, I go out and walk the garden with a container of soapy water, and I knock the beetles into it. Sometimes I pick them up and put them right in. They are definitely more active during the day (they love to fly at your head, or right down your shirt!), but I still manage to get lots in the water.

This is the picking from just ONE day (with a few Cabbage Worms thrown in from the broccoli). I estimate there at least a few hundred

I finally cracked this year, and got some Japanese Beetle Traps. They consist of a pheromone lure over a bag that the beetles fall into and can’t get out of. They do catch beetles, but not NEARLY as many as I get on my daily walkabouts. There’s also some controversy over whether they actually draw MORE beetles to your yard.

I’m definitely ready to try something else – I’ve seen the Beetle-Begone Max… and apparently it’s pollinator safe…

Of course, what we really need is something that will eat the beetles naturally…. maybe I just need to get some chickens in the garden…